In his combat for his political relevance after being expelled from the AIADMK, the massive battle now for former chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) is his personal identify.
OPS is contesting as an Impartial along with his personal image as a BJP-backed candidate from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency however a gaggle of 4 others with the identical identify — O Panneerselvam — have filed nominations. However it’s to be seen in the event that they make it to the race since nominations for Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections finish on March 27, with scrutiny on the next day. The state will go to polls on April 19.
Whereas the previous chief minister’s surname is Ottaakarathevar, the opposite fours’ are Ochappan, Oyyaram, Oyyathevar and Ochathevar, election officers stated.
Besides Oyyaram, a resident of Ramanthapuram, the remaining three are from Madurait. OPS filed his nomination on March 25 after which the opposite 4 submitted their papers.
“My identify is Panneerselvam. My father’s identify is Ochappan. I’ve come for the welfare of individuals,” he stated. Requested if he belonged to the DMK or AIADMK, he denied being part of both.
OPS’s supporter V Pugazendhi blamed the AIADMK presently led by common secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS). He particularly blamed RB Udayakumar who has changed OPS because the deputy chief of opposition within the Tamil Nadu meeting. “I do know it’s the handiwork Annan (brother) Udhayakumar. I’ve labored in a number of elections with him,” Pugazendhi stated. “They will deliver as many Panneerselvams however he might be recognized and he’ll win.”
Udhayakumar didn’t reply till the time of writing.
Referred to as dummy candidates, this trick is employed by social gathering rivals to confuse voters because the names are the identical. The previous CM has no recognisable image and has requested to be allotted free symbols akin to bucket, grapes and jackfruit.
OPS has been waging a authorized battle for the long-lasting two-leaves image of the AIADMK which presently belongs to the social gathering’s common secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS). In July 2022, EPS expelled OPS–then AIADMK’s coordinator–and his supporters JCD Prabhakar, R Vaithilingam, and PH Manoj Pandian. His son O Ravindranath is the one AIADMK candidate to have received within the 2019 LS elections was additionally eliminated leaving the social gathering with no illustration within the Lok Sabha.